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A massive shadow loomed, obscuring the sky.

Descending beneath it was a Heavenly Demon clad in a dark robe.

A man, wearing a cracked mask and with his hands behind his back, slowly made his way down.

Those gathered on the ground focused their eyes intently on the Heavenly Demon.

“That guy…!”

“How dare he brazenly come here again…!!”

Clang—!

Swoosh—!!

The martial artists all unsheathed their swords, and the air grew thick with energy.

It was a situation ready to explode.

Everyone expressed their fury, prepared to slice the Heavenly Demon to pieces right then and there.

[Chirp.]

Yet, the Heavenly Demon quietly chuckled as he watched them.

“…Heavenly Demon.”

This elicited an alarming frown from Geomseon.

Others felt the same, but especially for him, the aura emanating was extraordinary.

It seemed Geomseon would strike the Heavenly Demon at any moment, letting his emotions take control.

“I thought you’d run away by now. What more do you have to say by coming here?”

The Heavenly Demon tilted his head at Geomseon’s words.

[Originally, I hadn’t planned to show myself…]

He descended a bit lower.

It was an optimal position to strike with sword energy.

[Suddenly I was curious about your reflections. How do you feel?]

His voice was laced with amusement.

[What gift have I prepared?]

“…Ssssh.”

The sarcastic tone made Geomseon grit his teeth.

What did I feel about the gift?

“You have made me realize a lot. A whole lot.”

It would surely be a gift he would never forget.

Clang!

A sound rang from the sword Geomseon held.

It resonated the emotions entwined with the name of the sword.

“Heavenly Demon. You have made a grave mistake.”

Whoosh—!

A chill wind blew. The autumn breeze swirled around Geomseon, wrapping tightly.

“Showing yourself here means you’re prepared to die in this place.”

Fueled by rage, Geomseon stepped forward, intending to confront the Heavenly Demon.

“I will eliminate the traitor who ambushed Hanam here…!”

But just as he was about to leap, his eyes narrowed and his body froze.

Someone had stopped him.

Geomseon immediately turned his gaze toward that person.

“…What kind of nonsense is this? Maehwaseon.”

Maehwaseon Dohwa was pressing down on Geomseon’s shoulder.

Plum blossoms rained down over the scattered energy, and unexpectedly, Maehwaseon not only restrained Geomseon but managed to calm the turmoil around him.

With the air starting to circulate,

“…Maehwaseon…!”

Geomseon looked at Maehwaseon, his eyes ablaze with fury.

What are you doing, when the enemy stands right in front of you?

Maehwaseon replied to Geomseon’s face, which bore the expression of killing intent.

“Alliance Leader. Please stay calm.”

“…What? You expect me to remain calm now?!”

“If you cannot stay calm, others will die. I beg you to look at the forest, not just the trees.”

“…!”

Maehwaseon’s heavy tone erased any smile from his face.

Hearing that, Geomseon instantly turned back to glance at the Heavenly Demon.

There must be a reason for Maehwaseon mentioning that, as he sensed.

Upon observing the Heavenly Demon again, Geomseon soon realized.

“Heavenly Demon…!”

[What’s wrong?]

It was suddenly revealed.

The Heavenly Demon had unconsciously relaxed his hands behind his back, and his right hand was aimed somewhere.

The extended position pointed directly towards the area where the refugees gathered.

The meaning was clear:

Do not act recklessly.

If you make a foolish move, who knows what will happen to the refugees.

It was an implicit warning.

“…That vile being really!”

“To turn Hanam into this and still seek more sacrifices?!”

“They are innocent!”

On confirming this, the martial artists burned in fury.

[How amusing.]

The Heavenly Demon spoke, as if feeling contempt for their actions.

[So, what of the depths of the well exposed to light? Are you truly trying to argue that you barely retain justice? Do not be mistaken.]

Growl—!!

As he continued speaking, the creature hanging in the void let out a low roar.

[It is true that I have put you in this situation, but can you sincerely claim you are without sin?]

The fall of Hanam was the Heavenly Demon’s doing.

However,

To maintain the peace of the Central Plains and uphold the Righteous Faction’s honor, the Martial Alliance was indeed to blame.

If they fell to this state from even one shake,

[Arrogant.]

Was the Martial Alliance without issues?

At this inquiry, everyone’s expression soured, yet no one voiced any arguments.

They all knew it.

They were becoming increasingly aware of their problems.

[You have been arrogant and also ugly.]

[Disappointing indeed. Even if you’ve lost the light of the past, I thought you might still engage in some amusement. Yet, that was too much to hope for.]

His unmistakable condescension pricked like thorns.

Geomseon gritted his teeth in response to the offensive words.

He wanted nothing more than to lunge forth and sever that disgusting neck.

He wished to silence that revolting voice, but he could not.

Was it because the Heavenly Demon was threatening the lives of the refugees?

No.

Under normal circumstances, once he assessed the threat the Heavenly Demon posed, he believed he could handle it before it acted.

Yet Geomseon found himself unable to do so.

The lives of the refugees? Surely it was important.

However,

‘I cannot gauge his power.’

The very issue was that he did not know the true extent of the Heavenly Demon’s strength.

Even as Geomseon directed his energy sensing toward the man floating in the void,

‘…Why can I not grasp anything?’

With the being known as the Heavenly Demon, he felt absolutely nothing.

‘Can it be that I cannot feel him at all?’

It was as if he was present yet non-existent at the same time—a sensation beyond comprehension.

Sweat trickled down his back while witnessing this absurdity.

No matter how weak someone is, a semblance of presence should be felt.

In such a case, there was but one situation:

The gap in power was so vast that one could not sense the presence.

‘This is absurd…!’

While the answer surfaced, Geomseon struggled to believe it.

How could it be?

His gaze drifted sideways.

There stood the Heavenly Lord, quietly observing the Heavenly Demon.

Though he could distinctly feel the presence of the Heavenly Lord, the same could not be said for the Heavenly Demon?

‘He’s using a demonic technique.’

It undeniably had to be some form of sorcery; that was the only explanation. However,

‘One…’

A slim chance remained.

What if the Heavenly Demon truly was an unfathomable monster, one capable of rendering others powerless?

If that were the case, then the reason he descended here so confidently, after having removed the veil,

‘Indeed because he can wipe us out at will.’

That seemed utterly nonsensical, and yet that minuscule probability dangled precariously over Geomseon’s grasp.

And then,

‘Yes.’

Observing Geomseon’s situation, Gu Yangcheon quietly chuckled.

‘You stay just like that.’

It was the figure he desired to see.

He couldn’t help but feel delighted by the display.

To have the enemy show up directly yet maintain uncertainty was the very scenario Gu Yangcheon had been aiming for.

“Haah…”

He focused on calming his breathing.

His heart felt as if it were being squeezed, but he needed to endure this as well.

‘…My body is a wreck, and this is difficult enough.’

The Heavenly Demon, floating amidst the void, was not a mere figment of someone else’s imagination.

That was a being entirely forged from power.

Specifically, it was the power of the wind absorbed from Mang.

Gu Yangcheon had conjured the Heavenly Demon using that power.

‘…I had been practicing so much for this, and I end up in this mess.’

He was creating something he desired.

Regardless of what it was, he could mold anything intimately known to him into existence—

That was ‘the wind.’

When Gu Yangcheon had first acquired this power, he reflected,

‘If I use this well… I could manage something worthwhile?’

He had claimed what he felt to be a fantastic power.

When he had transferred regeneration to Woo Hyeok, he felt the sting of loss, yet he also considered it fortunate.

At least I’ve salvaged the wind.

He thought of it as a highly useful ability.

As long as he knew the details, he could materialize anything. That was an extraordinarily fraudulent trait.

Having come to realize the potential for growth after obtaining and mastering this power, Gu Yangcheon prepared for this plan.

There were three conditions to the plan.

First.

Could he create a human form with the wind?

Second.

Could the produced human form also generate a ‘voice’?

Third.

Could what he created endure at least half a moment?

It had to align with these three conditions.

Every night, he would train tirelessly, using up all the energy he had.

Thus, he succeeded in sustaining the form of the Heavenly Demon for half a moment. However,

‘…In actual combat, it’s another story.’

Now, not only was half a moment out of reach, but even attaining a quarter of that was proving agonizing.

He needed to create a human body and make that body move naturally.

It must inhale and exhale, with subtle movements to maintain an illusion of life.

As hair swayed and movements appeared natural, he had to exert all his strength to sustain that delicate balance.

It was mentally taxing as well.

‘…I must be going mad.’

The uncanny sensation felt when removing the veil was an entirely different magnitude.

In terms of difficulty, this was hundreds of times harder; what nonsense was this veil anyway?

Having been thoroughly ravaged by battle, his reserves for energy were drained in an instant.

It wasn’t merely a matter of using energy; there were countless complications.

‘Just a minor slip, and everything will unravel.’

He had to hold on.

If he released it now, everything would come to an end.

He had endured through rigorous struggles for this; he could not ruin it now.

Buzz—!!!

While maintaining his power, he swallowed the blood rising.

During that time, the Heavenly Demon continued to speak.

[Justice has already crumbled and fallen. Do you believe yourselves to be the upholders of justice?]

[You’re mistaken.]

[At least if righteousness and harmony are justice, you cannot claim this.]

[Selfish and arrogant insects. Too caught up in guarding your own territory that you’ve long forgotten the original essence.]

With mere moments left,

He began to feel his limits.

‘Not yet.’

Just a little longer.

He could endure a bit more.

[You are not justice.]

There were still words he had to say.

[Today, I realized something.]

He poured the very essence of his heart into his words.

So when he did, the voice of the Heavenly Demon became more defined.

[I shall create a world where you are of no necessity.]

It was a loud proclamation descending like a hammer.

Hearing this, the martial artists began to chatter in worry.

They grew greatly anxious, uncertain of the Heavenly Demon’s next actions.

The horrifying atmosphere grew overwhelmingly intense.

In that moment,

[One.]

Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon lowered the hand he had held towards the refugees.

Everyone’s eyes widened at this sudden movement. What was his intention?

[I shall offer a chance.]

A chance? Confusion filled their minds as they focused intently.

At that moment.

Swoosh.

The Heavenly Demon swiftly extended a fingertip toward the martial artists.

It seemed as if he was pointing to someone.

And just like that, they glanced hungrily to see whom he was indicating.

There crouched a young man, collecting himself with weary breaths.

His body was unmistakably in tatters.

Though struggling to maintain his own composure, he swayed unsteadily while glaring at the Heavenly Demon with bloodshot eyes.

[You. What is your name?]

“…”

The Heavenly Demon inquired about his name.

The young man, with fierce expression, responded to him.

“…Gu…Yang…Cheon.”

His voice was strained, punctuated by breaks.

[Gu Yangcheon. So that’s it.]

As if to commit it to memory, the Heavenly Demon continued.

[For an insect, you put up a valiant struggle. I was fortunate to witness something among all these fools….]

Swoosh—!!

As the Heavenly Demon spoke, his body began to ascend slowly into the void.

[Today, I shall let it pass. It seems needless to soil my feet by trampling insects… as I am quite pleased at the moment.]

He could easily crush them, yet he decided to allow them a reprieve this time.

Such an overt confidence hung heavy in the air.

[So, when I next visit, do hope to amuse me a little more pleasantly.]

Having concluded his statements, the Heavenly Demon ascended further into the void.

“…Heavenly Demon! Trying to escape again…!”

Geomseon, unable to hold back, raised his voice once more.

Thunder—!!!

“…!”

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, a blinding light erupted.

With a thunderous bang, thunder qi burst forth.

It emanated from the Heavenly Lord.

Everyone instinctively cupped their ears from the booming sound.

Yet it didn’t stop there.

“Th-That…!”

Someone pointed toward the Heavenly Demon, gasping.

The Heavenly Demon’s upper body had been pierced!

Had the Heavenly Lord succeeded in ambushing the Heavenly Demon?

Hope kindled as everyone began to rejoice.

Swooosh—…

“Ugh!”

“Wh-What?!”

Surprisingly, the pierced flesh of the Heavenly Demon was slowly regenerating.

Flesh filled the gaping wound seamlessly.

The dark robes returned to their original appearance as if nothing had happened.

It was a bizarre and terrifying sight.

Seeing it, one murmured, bewildered.

“…Is he truly a god?”

Had it been any other time, he would have been scolded for such nonsense, but no one there could voice their thoughts.

That was how shocking it was.

[Hmm.]

The Heavenly Demon lightly touched the spot that had been punctured, then turned his gaze towards the Heavenly Lord.

Since he had been ambushed, was he finally ready to engage in true combat?

Everyone held their breath and stared intently.

[How unfortunate.]

The Heavenly Demon uttered that single remark, then continued on his way, floating further into the void.

Growl—!

He vanished alongside that enormous entity in the sky.

That massive presence that had just disappeared in an instant…

The situation had changed like the passing wind, leaving everyone speechless.

“Kerch—!!”

Someone collapsed, coughing up blood.

“So Yeomra!”

It was none other than So Yeomra Gu Yangcheon.

Yangcheon staggered and spat out black blood, prompting all the martial artists to rush towards him.

They quickly sought to assess his condition.

“…I-I’m losing consciousness.”

“We need to contact a physician…!”

Urgently, they set into motion.

There was so much to handle, with concerns for not just Gu Yangcheon but the clan leader as well.

Thus, amidst the disastrous scene, the martial artists pressed forward.

But one individual stood there, gazing silently at Gu Yangcheon.

It was Geomseon, his face contorted as he looked on, following the strange warmth emanating from the void.

He watched silently as the Heavenly Lord approached Gu Yangcheon.

*

After the ambush incident in Hanam,

Three days passed.

Though it wasn’t a lengthy span, countless events had unfolded in Hanam.

The beginning was the calamity that engulfed the city.

Most inns that had stood their ground lay in ruins now, leading many people to lose their homes and livelihoods.

The damage was so significant that it would take several days just to clear away the debris, and restoring everything to its former state would likely take years.

Those who had suddenly lost their homes and jobs cried out in anguish, yet, amidst this despair, there were those who stepped forward to help.

It was the Baekhwa Sect and Changwon Sect, known as the “Clans of the Central Plains.”

They immediately offered their assistance following the incident.

They erected tents for the refugees and began distributing food supplies.

Moreover, they pledged to assist in clearing out the collapsed structures and to provide shelter without charge until recovery was complete.

Thanks to them, there was a small sense of relief, but…

The situation couldn’t be resolved solely with money.

What mattered the most lay ahead.

In the recent ambush, numerous casualties had arisen.

Many of those included individuals of notable rank.

Primarily, three leaders of the Eight Sword Teams within the Martial Alliance met their demise.

The deaths of Ilryong Great Lord, Pungryong Great Lord, and Cheollyong Great Lord were all reported officially.

Ilryong Great Lord tragically died battling an executive from the Demonic Sect who orchestrated the ambush.

Pungryong Great Lord had sacrificed his spirit while trying to save the Alliance Leader and others as he unleashed evil techniques.

Furthermore, Cheollyong Great Lord met a glorified death, having perished alongside the enemy while pursuing a monster adept at Tiger Fist Techniques.

News of this magnitude alone shocked everyone.

However, it was not long before an even graver report emerged.

“Word is the Sword King has passed away…!”

“…Huh? Is that truly the case?”

From the Hebei Peng Clan, one of the Four Great Clans, the demise of Sword King Peng Zhou was revealed.

It was said he lost his life in this ambush as well.

“Unbelievable… How could someone of his caliber meet such an end?!”

“…The one who harmed Ilryong Great Lord was allegedly the same individual who killed the Sword King.”

“Just how powerful could this being be?!”

“It is said that the Sword King was supporting the unconscious Ilryong Great Lord when they were ambushed.”

“Bi Seongdo tried to fight back but sadly could not safeguard the Sword King.”

“Could it be that the villain murdered him in front of his own child? Is there truly such treachery in this world?!”

Reports confirmed that the Sword King had been slain.

Bi Seongdo failed to thwart the attack and, as a result, lay severely injured and could not regain consciousness.

With the slaying of Ilryong Great Lord, and now the Sword King,

The people began to refer to this cruel fiend as Gwiakchang (鬼惡槍).

“What earth has led to this…?”

His voice sounded as if he was weeping.

“To lose so many precious souls is one thing… But for disaster to strike as well…”

“Disaster? Do you mean the White Grade Demon Beast?”

“Yes… Damn it, how could a top-tier beast just appear out of nowhere?!”

At the man’s words, everyone fell silent.

The White Grade Demon Beast.

Perhaps this is the most catastrophic event occurring.

Three years had passed since the emergence of First-Grade Demon Beasts.

Although they had managed to find methods to fend them off through various means, the reappearance of White Grade beasts left many on edge.

“When listening to eyewitness accounts, it genuinely seemed like a calamity.”

“If we hadn’t been able to stop it… Perhaps Hanam might have simply vanished.”

The imagined images of piles of First-Grade demons and their savage howls echoed through the minds of all who heard.

Had they not intervened, Hanam would have faced obliteration.

Not a single person dared to dispute that notion.

“Truly… What a stroke of luck.”

“Indeed… It was because that person was there that we are alive today.”

Recalling someone brought an unusual sense of relief to their expressions.

Even with three Great Lords dead, and one high-ranking noble gone, they felt a warmth in their hearts.

“When the world falls into chaos, a hero appears; how right that is!”

“…Indeed, a hero.”

“The Great Demon Lord who appeared in Hanam even recognized that person.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. My nephew is one of the martial artists in the alliance; he knows well. That detestable Heavenly Demon… The Great Demon Lord acknowledged him.”

The being that brought destruction upon Hanam, not only summoning White Grade demons but also controlling massive monsters, playing with the Martial Alliance like toys.

It was the Heavenly Demon who commanded the Demonic Sect.

Now, his vile reputation spread not just across Hanam but throughout the Central Plains.

Yet…

“That person saved my life.”

“You too? I too was saved by him. I nearly perished, buried beneath debris.”

“I, I also nearly died at the hands of a monster, but he saved me.”

Amidst a fearful situation, the people drew strength from thoughts of someone.

“They say to never trust rumors, and it appears there was truth to that.”

“It must be the doing of those who envied the hero.”

“That lecherous fiend, oh how wretched… Though it is true he has an imposing countenance… Regardless!”

“It’s shameful to have been swayed by such insignificant rumors…”

“Better late than never.”

“True. In these dire times, to have one person to believe in, how fortunate!”

With every utterance, their expressions grew more at ease.

All were reminiscing about one singular individual.

On the very day of the ambush,

He had tenderly taken care of refugees amid collapsing buildings and cries of despair, approaching even those who disregarded the Martial Alliance.

He fought valiantly against the rampaging monsters, putting his life on the line without hesitation.

He tended to those martial artists present, without a moment’s rest, quickly heading to the alliance alongside the Pungryong Great Lord to rescue the Alliance Leader and others.

Despite possessing immense power characteristic of Late-Stage Talents, he never allowed himself to succumb to boasting, risking everything to defend Hanam.

He had ultimately gained recognition as a hero of the mortal world from the Great Demon Lord.

As they pondered upon such a magnificent figure, someone suddenly spoke up.

“Ah! Have you heard? They say that following this event, the hall plans to change that person’s epithet to reflect his achievements in the alliance.”

“Epithet? What do you mean suddenly changing it?”

“Prepare yourselves for surprise. This epithet is none other than…”

And so, while flowers of laughter bloomed amidst the ruins,

In the distance, at the Baekhwa Sect, a figure passed through the corridor.

A stunning woman with delicate beauty and fine adornments—Moyong Hi-ah.

She held a handful of snacks and walked lightly to pause at a door.

Knock, knock.

She tapped on the door with her white fingers, only to be met with silence from within.

Is no one inside?

No.

Moyong Hi-ah didn’t quite believe that.

“Prince, it’s me. Time for lunch.”

She called softly, but there was no response again.

“Hmm.”

What to do? She hesitated for a moment.

Is he pretending to be asleep?

He couldn’t genuinely be asleep; he was the type to rouse the moment someone called upon him.

Then again, this could indicate a refusal to come out.

Yet it didn’t matter.

She knew there were ways around it.

“Um… Heh…!”

She fought hard to stifle a laugh as she prepared her words.

This method was slightly difficult for Moyong Hi-ah herself.

After mustering her voice for a while, she finally said,

“Star King.”

At that moment.

“It’s lunch….”

With a bang, the tightly shut door swung open, revealing the young man she had been seeking—Gu Yangcheon.

“Why didn’t you just come out sooner?”

With a bright smile, Moyong Hi-ah looked at Yangcheon, who merely sighed,

“Please… don’t call me that.”

His face contorted with discomfort as he breathed heavily.

 

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